In the wake of the pandemic, workplace culture has become a top priority for businesses worldwide.
Creating a positive workplace culture can help improve employee wellbeing, performance and productivity, communication, transparency, recruitment, engagement and retention. And if that wasn’t enough, happy employees result in happy customers, with all of these factors positively impacting client satisfaction.
What is workplace culture?
Workplace culture refers to the values, beliefs and behaviours that shape how employees interact with each other and carry out their work. A positive workplace culture can help improve employee morale, motivation and engagement, which in turn can lead to better business performance.
There are many factors that contribute to workplace culture, including an organisation’s values, mission and goals, as well as the physical workplace environment. Workplace culture can also be shaped by an organisation’s leadership team and management style.
What does a positive workplace culture look like?
A positive workplace culture should have:
- Values that employees can buy into and feel proud to represent: values that are more than just words on a wall, but that are actively promoted and lived by the organisation.
- A workplace environment that is safe, comfortable and conducive to productive work: an environment that takes into account the needs of employees and makes them feel valued.
- Leadership that is supportive, transparent and accessible: leadership that sets the tone for the workplace culture and provides employees with the support they need to be successful.
- Management practices that are fair and consistent: management practices that are designed to help employees meet their goals and improve their performance.
- A feeling of safety, trust and belonging among employees: a workplace culture where employees feel like they are part of a team and are supported by their colleagues.
- A sense of purpose and meaning in work: a workplace culture that helps employees see the value in their work and feel motivated to do their best.
- Great communication and transparency: a workplace culture that encourages open communication and transparency can help improve employee engagement and build trust.
- Opportunities for employee growth and development: a workplace culture that supports employee growth and development can help attract and retain top talent.
- Creativity and innovation: a workplace culture that encourages creativity and innovation can help organisations find new ways to solve problems and improve performance.
How you can drive a positive workplace culture in your business
Create a unique and meaningful workplace experience
Workplace culture is more than just the physical workplace. It’s about creating a unique and meaningful experience for employees that goes beyond the day-to-day work. This can be done by offering opportunities for employee development, encouraging creativity and innovation, and providing a workplace that is comfortable and conducive to productive work. A study from Deloitte found that 80% of executives believe that workplace experience is very important.
For example, including perks like free food, fun social events and the option for flexibility to promote a healthy work-life balance. Another great way is to give employees the opportunity to work on projects that interest them, regardless of their job title. This allows them to be creative and innovative in their work, which can lead to better workplace morale and productivity.
Promote innovation and creativity in all aspects of work
A positive workplace culture should encourage innovation and creativity in all aspects of work. This includes encouraging employees to come up with new ideas, encouraging them to take risks, and giving them the freedom to experiment.
Giving an allocation each week for “innovation time” can also help to spark creativity, and might even lead to some new processes that promote efficiency and increase the team's capacity to take on more work.
Focus on recruitment and employee development
Companies should focus on attracting and developing top talent . This can be done by offering competitive salaries and benefits, as well as development opportunities. Employees who value workplace culture should also be a priority when recruiting, as they are more likely to stay with the company and have a positive impact on all of the people around them.
When developing employees, it’s important to focus on their individual needs and career goals. This can be done through mentorship programs, training opportunities, and by providing development resources. Giving employees the option to continuously develop their skills will not only help them progress in their careers, but it will also keep them engaged and motivated in their work.
Prioritise transparency in your team and workplace
Transparency is key to maintaining a positive workplace culture. Employees should feel like they are part of the decision-making process, and that their voices are being heard. This can be done by sharing information openly, communicating regularly, and being transparent about changes in the workplace.
It’s also important to provide feedback regularly, so that employees know how they are performing and where they can improve. Feedback should be given in a constructive and positive way, so that employees feel motivated to do better rather than feeling criticised.
Encourage a healthy work-life balance
A healthy work-life balance is essential for a positive workplace culture. Employees should feel like they have the time and space to take care of themselves , both inside and outside of work. This can be done by offering flexible work hours, providing access to wellness resources, and encouraging employees to take breaks during the day.
It’s also important to create a workplace that’s free from stress and negativity. This can be done by setting realistic expectations, having clear and concise communication, and providing support when needed.
Continue to measure and improve your culture
Workplace culture should be constantly evolving to meet the needs of employees. This can be done by regularly measuring employee satisfaction , conducting focus groups, and regularly asking the question, “how can we do better?.” These initiatives will help to identify areas where the workplace culture can be improved, and will allow employees to have a say in how their workplace is run.
Attract top-tier clients with your culture
A positive workplace culture can have a direct impact on client satisfaction. A study by MIT found that a positive workplace culture experiences double the customer loyalty compared to those who don’t.
When employees are happy and engaged with their work, they are more likely to provide excellent customer service. A positive workplace culture can also lead to higher-quality work, as employees feel more motivated to do their best when they feel valued and supported by management and their colleagues.
A workplace culture that is positive and supportive will reflect well on the organisation, as it shows that the company is committed to its employees and providing a great work environment. This can help attract and retain clients, as they will see the organisation as being a good business to work with.
BlueRock: A Great Place to Work®
Workplace culture is a vital part of any organisation, and it’s important to invest time and resources into making sure it’s a positive and supportive environment for all employees.
At BlueRock Digital, we strive in making our workplace culture one of the best in the industry. We believe that by focusing on our workplace culture, we can promote a positive and productive work environment.
That’s why we were so thrilled to announce that we were once again named as a Great Place to Work® in 2022. Great Place to Work® surveys businesses and their employees across 45 countries to recognise and certify businesses doing great things with their workplace culture. We couldn’t be more proud!
If you’re looking for an organisation that values workplace culture, then BlueRock is the place for you. Get in touch or view our current opportunities here.
